Where is Cornifer in Forgotten Crossroads?
Western Crossroads, on the lower level. Drop down from the room left of the well and follow the humming.
Missed him? Every Cornifer location and what Iselda charges instead.
The Crossroads is a wide lattice of stone tunnels that connects almost everything early. Coming down the well you land in the middle. West leads to Greenpath and the Brooding Mawlek, south leads down to the Fungal Wastes, east leads to the Crystal Peak entrance and the Ancestral Mound sits above the central shaft. Explore this area properly before you leave it, because you will walk back through it dozens of times.
Cornifer is in the western half. From the well room head left, then drop down through the openings to the lower level and follow the humming. His map costs 30 Geo, the cheapest in the game, and Iselda charges 40 Geo if you skip him. Buy it. Thirty Geo is roughly one husk cluster and the Crossroads has enough dead ends to justify it.
The two bosses here are False Knight and Gruz Mother. Gruz Mother sits in a closed chamber in the east and drops a large Geo purse, so kill her early for shop money. False Knight is in the north west and guards the path toward the Ancestral Mound and a Mask Shard; his armour only breaks when he is stunned, so pogo on his head while he is dazed. In the far west, behind a crumbling wall, the Brooding Mawlek is an optional boss that drops a Mask Shard and is genuinely hard at base nail. Come back for him later if he shreds you.
Three NPCs matter here. Sly is trapped in a hidden room near the Stag Station, and freeing him opens the shop in Dirtmouth. The Grubfather sits behind a breakable wall in the east and pays out rewards for every grub you free across Hallownest, starting with 10 Geo for one grub and a Mask Shard at five. Salubra runs a charm shop near the southern route toward the Fungal Wastes and sells four charm notches along with several charms. Myla the miner sings in a side tunnel toward Crystal Peak, and her story changes as the game goes on.
Once you defeat your first Dreamer, the Crossroads becomes the Infected Crossroads. The husks are replaced by stronger orange infected versions and new enemies appear in the side tunnels. Nothing is lost, but the walk through gets noticeably more dangerous, so it is worth clearing the grubs and the Mask Shard here before you commit to a Dreamer fight.
Places inside Forgotten Crossroads
- Ancestral Mound
- Crossroads Stag Station
- Grubfather's chamber
- Salubra's charm shop
- Sly's hidden room
- Temple of the Black Egg
Tips
- Buy the 30 Geo map from Cornifer in the west. It is the cheapest map in the game.
- Kill Gruz Mother early. Her Geo drop funds the Quill.
- Break the floor near the Stag Station to free Sly and open his Dirtmouth shop.
- Clear the grubs and the Mask Shard here before you beat a Dreamer, because the area becomes the harder Infected Crossroads afterwards.
- The Ancestral Mound above the central shaft gives you Vengeful Spirit, your first spell. Do not skip it.
- Brooding Mawlek in the far west is optional and hits hard. Come back with an upgraded nail.
All 48 locations in Forgotten Crossroads
Benches (5)
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Inside the Ancestral Mound
In the horned dome where the Snail Shaman teaches Vengeful Spirit.
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Hot Spring room, central Crossroads
Beside the steaming pool. Sitting in the spring refills your masks, so it is a handy stop before the False Knight.
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Forgotten Crossroads Stag Station
Right next to the stag platform, so you can rest and travel from the same room.
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Temple of the Black Egg, east of Dirtmouth
A stone bench inside the temple, right before the sealed door. It is the last rest stop before the Hollow Knight, so set your charms here.
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Outside Salubra's shop, east Crossroads
Beside Charm Lover Salubra in the east Crossroads. Handy for swapping charms after buying her notches.
Stag Stations (1)
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Central Crossroads
The first station you can open. Pay the toll, ring the bell and the Last Stag arrives.
Trams and Lifts (1)
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South-east Crossroads tramway
The western end of the upper tram line, which runs across to the Resting Grounds. Insert the Tram Pass to call the car.
Cornifer (1)
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West Crossroads, below the Ancestral Mound
The first time you meet him. Iselda sells the same map for 40 Geo if you miss him.
Grubs (5)
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Husk Guard room, north-east Crossroads
Defeat the Husk Guard in the room on the way up to Crystal Peak, then break the jar behind him.
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West Crossroads, near the Greenpath border
Sits in the open on the west side of the Crossroads. No ability is needed to reach it.
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Behind a breakable wall, north Crossroads
Slash the cracked wall in the upper Crossroads corridor to open the room holding the jar.
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Spiked shaft east of the Stag Station
Reached by nail-bouncing off the spikes in the shaft east of the Crossroads Stag Station.
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Ledge in the central Crossroads
Cross the gap with the Mothwing Cloak, or nail-bounce off an enemy if you do not have it yet. This is the fifth Grub reward from the Grubfather, a Mask Shard.
Mask Shards (3)
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Far west end of the Forgotten Crossroads
Reward for defeating Brooding Mawlek in the pit at the western end of the Crossroads.
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Grubhome, north-west Crossroads
Given by the Grubfather once 5 Grubs have been rescued.
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Goam passage south of the False Knight
South of the False Knight arena, climb the passage lined with Goams. The Mantis Claw makes this far easier.
Vessel Fragments (1)
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Left of the great lift shaft
Unlock the lift from the City of Tears side, then ride it up to the Crossroads and drop into the gap on the left of the shaft.
Pale Ore (1)
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Grubhome, north-west Crossroads
The Grubfather gives a Pale Ore once 31 Grubs have been rescued.
Whispering Roots (2)
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Ancestral Mound
Inside the Ancestral Mound above the Snail Shaman. Dream Dialogue speaks of Soul attuned, Spiral focus and Shunned Power.
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Top of the Forgotten Crossroads, below the well
In the topmost Crossroads room, just below the well down from Dirtmouth.
Relics (3)
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Secret room left of the well
Climb the shaft under the Dirtmouth well and slip into the hidden room on the left wall.
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Grubhome, north-west Crossroads
Handed over once 23 Grubs have been returned to the Grubfather.
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Grubhome, north-west Crossroads
Given for rescuing 38 Grubs.
Charms (9)
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Ancestral Mound, Forgotten Crossroads
Adds extra Soul to every nail hit, which speeds up both healing and spell casting. It waits at the very end of the Ancestral Mound, past the Elder Baldur.
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Salubra's shop, Forgotten Crossroads
Makes Focus channel noticeably faster so you can steal heals in tight boss windows. Salubra sells it in her hut at the bottom of the Crossroads.
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Salubra's shop, Forgotten Crossroads
Grants two Lifeblood masks whenever you rest at a bench, acting as a free buffer. One of Salubra's five charms.
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Salubra's shop, Forgotten Crossroads
Extends your nail range so you can hit from a safer distance. Mark of Pride is a bigger version of the same effect, and the two do not stack.
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Salubra's shop, Forgotten Crossroads
Increases the size and damage of all three spells, which makes spell builds viable for the whole game. Bought from Salubra.
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Salubra's shop, Forgotten Crossroads
Removes the recoil you get when your nail connects, which keeps you glued to a target. Cheap and useful with Nail Arts.
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Grubfather's chamber, north west Forgotten Crossroads
Gives you Soul every time you take damage, which turns bad fights into free heals. Grubfather hands it over after you free 10 Grubs.
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Grubfather's chamber, north west Forgotten Crossroads
Fires a beam from your nail whenever you are at full masks, giving you a free ranged attack. Grubfather's final reward for rescuing all 46 Grubs.
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Infected chamber east of the False Knight arena
Spends Soul to spawn hatchlings that ram into enemies for you. The entrance is hidden in the ceiling to the right of the False Knight arena, past a spike tunnel that only the super dash can cross, and the charm sits on a giant Aspid Mother.
Abilities and Spells (1)
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Ancestral Mound, Forgotten Crossroads
Your first spell, a horizontal projectile that costs 33 Soul. The Snail Shaman in the Ancestral Mound grants it, so head there early.
Keys and Items (5)
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False Knight arena
Dropped by the False Knight. Slot it into the statue in the Fungal Wastes to open the gate into the City of Tears.
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Salubra's shop, east Crossroads
The first notch Salubra offers. She only sells it once you own 5 charms.
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Salubra's shop, east Crossroads
Unlocked in her stock once you own 10 charms.
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Salubra's shop, east Crossroads
Appears once you own 18 charms.
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Salubra's shop, east Crossroads
Her last notch, on sale once you own 25 charms.
Bosses (6)
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Storeroom hall, central Forgotten Crossroads
A maggot piloting the stolen armour of the Great Knight Hegemol, swinging a huge mace. Dodge under his slams and hit the exposed maggot when he stuns himself against the wall, then finish him through the floor he collapses.
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False Knight's corpse, Forgotten Crossroads
The dream version of False Knight, faster and with orange shockwaves that cover the floor. Stay mobile, punish only after his slam, and note that dying here costs you nothing because it happens inside the Dream Realm.
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Cocoon chamber, east Forgotten Crossroads
A bloated fly that charges in straight lines and bounces off walls. Stand still until she commits, then dash under her and hit as she passes, and kill the baby Gruz that hatches at the end.
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Hidden western cavern, Forgotten Crossroads
Spits arcs of orange infection and lunges across the arena. Hug the wall it is not facing, heal only after its triple spit, and hit its head while it recovers.
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Temple of the Black Egg
The final Vessel, fought after freeing all three Dreamers. Learn its slash and dash tells, punish the long lunge, and in the last phase it stabs itself, which is your window to Dream Nail it for the Dream No More ending.
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Dream within the Temple of the Black Egg
The true final boss, reached by Dream Nailing the Hollow Knight while wearing Void Heart. Expect sword walls, spike floors, homing beams and a falling platform climb, and unlike other dream fights losing here counts as a real death.
NPCs and Shops (3)
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Salubra's hut, bottom of the Forgotten Crossroads
Sells Quick Focus, Lifeblood Heart, Longnail, Shaman Stone and Steady Body, plus four Charm Notches at 120, 500, 900 and 1400 Geo. Once you own enough charms she also gives you Salubra's Blessing for free.
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Grubhome, north west Forgotten Crossroads
Rewards you for every Grub you free across Hallownest, with Geo, Mask Shards, Pale Ore, Rancid Eggs, relics, Grubsong at 10 Grubs and Grubberfly's Elegy at all 46. Visit him after every few rescues.
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Temple of the Black Egg, and eight more spots across Hallownest
Quirrel appears outside the Temple of the Black Egg, at the Lake of Unn in Greenpath, at Queen's Station and again in Mantis Village, on a bench in the City of Tears, at a window near the top of Crystal Peak, in the Deepnest Hot Spring, outside the Teacher's Archives, and finally at Blue Lake. Talk to him at each one before you advance past it.
Secrets and Lore (1)
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East of the Dirtmouth well
The sealed temple holding the Hollow Knight, guarded by three Dreamer seals. Once all three Dreamers are freed the seals break and the final fight opens. Quirrel is first met standing outside it.
